To prepare to take photos at Jiggs Landing recently, I left a more powerful camera lens at the office.
This image by Bob Bolcik shows the great horned owl triplets that are living with their parents in a tall pine tree at Jiggs Landing. PHOTO PROVIDED BY BOB BOLCIK
Everything there seems to beg for a photo. Cute turquoise cabins. A solitary man fishing from a dock. Children romping on the rustic playground.
Then, there are the great horned owls in a tall pine tree that are the focus, pun intended, of several photographers with some pretty fancy equipment.
After I wrote last week that the adult owls are watching over two youngsters that recently hatched, Bob Bolcik sent me a photo, gently correcting me. The babies are triplets.
Check out his image on this page. Beautiful, isn’t it?
Bolcik is past president of the Lakewood Ranch Digital Camera Club, which was founded by Denny Noto and Bob Swiatek. He joined a few years ago helped them steer the club from a handful of members to about 114 that attend monthly meetings and hear guest speakers.
It is an eclectic group, Bolcik said, and people of all skill levels, from amateur to professional, attend and learn from one another.
Bolcik emphasized that they are a friendly group and have evolved into a social club as well; several photographers developed friendships outside of the club. Members wear name badges and welcome newcomers. They love to share tips and news about gadgets with each other.
The monthly off-site shoots are popular. A couple of Saturdays ago, for example, a group went to Sarasota Architectural Salvage. Photographers made an 8-by-10 glossy of their best shot to bring to the meeting last week. Club members vote on the images each month, and ribbons for first, second and third places are awarded.
In January, Bolcik led a group to the Celery Fields in Sarasota for an “It Flies”-themed session to photograph birds.
Members participating in the “Forced Perspective” session in February learned some new techniques.
As for the owl family at Jiggs Landing, Bolcik said, the parents chased a pair of ospreys away and stole the nest. The ospreys built a new nest a couple of hundred yards away on 63rd Street East.
“The best time to take photos is about an hour before sunset,” he said. “Their day begins at sundown.”
Last week, the owl babies were beginning to fly short distances under the careful watch of mom and dad.
They apparently made fast progress. When Bolcik visited the nest Sunday, the owls were gone.
He took a series of photos that show the nest disassembled, probably by an osprey; an osprey eyeing the nest; and, finally, an osprey back at home in the nest.
Obviously, Bolcik is keen about learning about wildlife habits and habitats while he is in the field with his camera.
People interested in picking up some pointers can seek out advice from him and the other friendly hobbyists and professionals at the Lakewood Ranch Digital Photography Club.
Christi Womack can be reached at christi.womack@heraldtribune.com or 745-7824 or via Twitter at @christiwomack.
INTERESTED?
What: Lakewood Ranch Digital Camera Club.
When: 7 to 9 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month.
Where: Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch.
Information: Visit lwrdpc.org.